The death toll from Typhoon Bualoi in Vietnam has risen to 19, with 21 people still missing, the government announced yesterday (September 30), making it the most devastating storm to hit the country this year, as heavy rains caused severe flooding in Hanoi and northern provinces.
Bualoi made landfall in north-central Vietnam on Monday, bringing with it strong swells, strong winds, and torrential rain.
Last week, the typhoon killed at least ten people in the Philippines.
The government reported that 88 people were also injured, more than 100,000 homes damaged, mainly in Nghe An and Ha Tinh provinces, and more than 10,000 hectares of rice paddies and crops flooded.
Rainfall in several regions of Vietnam exceeded 300 mm in the past 24 hours, the national meteorological agency said, warning of a risk of landslides and flash floods.
With a long coastline facing the South China Sea, Vietnam is prone to typhoons which often also bring heavy rains causing severe flooding.